Functions and success conditions of student feedback in the development of teaching and teachers
- The term “student feedback” is often used synonymously with evaluation, assessment, or ratings of teaching, but can be conceptually delimitated from these concepts, distinguishing formative and summative aspects. Obtaining feedback is a core component of teachers’ professional development. It is the basis for critical self-reflection, a prerequisite of reducing discrepancies between one’s performance and set goals, a tool to identify blind spots, and a means of correcting false self-assessments. Student feedback opens up opportunities for teachers to improve on their teaching by comparing students’ perspectives on instructional quality to their own perspectives. Feedback can also help teachers to implement democratic principles, and experience self-efficacy. Conditions are discussed that need to be fulfilled for student feedback to be successful.
